Serving-fork.



No. 872,425. PATENTED DEC. 3, 1907.

0. N. HOOPER. SERVING FORK;

APPLICATION FILED JULYIB, 1905.

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. No. 872,425. PATENTED DEC. 3, 1907.

- 0. N. HOOPER.

SERVING PORK.

APPLICATION FILED JULY1B,1905.

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v No. 872,425- PATENTED DEC. 3, 1907.

G. N. HOOPER.

SERVING PORK.

APPLICATION FILED JULY18,1905.

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CHARLES NELSON HOOPER, OF DUBUQUE, IOWA.

SERVING-FORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 3, 1907.

Application filed July 18,1905. Serial No. 2701188.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES NELSON HooPER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dubuque, in the county of Dubuque and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Serving- Forks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

The invention relates to serving apparatus and while applicable to many different purposes is especially designed to be employed in the manufacture of enamel ware, in which process the articles to be treated are lifted from tables, inserted in a furnace and removed therefrom and deposited on receiving tables.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus whereby the operation outlined above may be accomplished with ease and efficiency, economy in space secured and the distance necessary to he traveled by an attendant lessened.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the annexed detailed description.

A convenient embodiment of the invention comprises the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, illus trated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, forming part hereof, Figure 1 is a side elevation, the furnace and supporting structure being shown in section; Fig. 2 is a plan of the apparatus; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the form of article handling device shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a modified form of article handling device.

Referring in detail to the drawings wherein like, reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, 1 designates a furnace provided with a slotted support a and 2 indicates slotted supports arranged at the sides of the furnace to support the ware.

Arranged to move in line with the furnace and the slotted support-s is a jib 3, which is pivoted at the apex of a triangular frame 32 secured to a supporting structures. The inner end of the jib 3 extends beneath the triangular frame b and is connected with suitable actuating mechanism d, shown in this instance as a piston and cylinder pivot-ally supported in a hanger e on the horizontal leg f of the triangular frame. The outer end of the jib 3 is connected to the triangular frame I) by brace rods g.

Mounted for travel on the jib 3 is a carriage 4 comprising a .main truss frame 5 in which are mounted overlying wheels 7t and an auxiliary truss offset frame portion 'i provided with an underlying wheel 7' to prevent upward tilting of the carriage. The main frame 5 is provided with a downwardly depending arm 6 to which are pivoted one above the other the members 7 and 8, each comprising a pair of links, the links of each pair being mounted at opposite sides of the arm 6 on pivots 9 and 10 that pass through the arm. The members 7 and 8 extend in advance of the arm 6 and the links of the lower member 7 extend to the rear of the arm 6 being rigidly connected as at 11 and terminating in a suitable handle 12. The portion of the member 7 at 11 is adapted to abut against the rear edge of the arm 6 to serve as a stop to limit the downward movement of the article handling device about to be described. The front ends of each pair of links are connected by transverse pins 13 and 14 and the two pairs of links are loosely connected by two vertical links 15, the ends of the links 15 being provided with eyes which are loosely engaged by the transverse pins 13 and 14. The members 7 and 8 carry an article handling device in the nature of a platform or fork 16 comprising the arms or tines 17 and the transverse member 18 for rigidly connccting the same. The inner portions of the arms or tines 17 are curved toward each other to form a yoke 19 to straddle the member 7, the inner ends of the arms or tines being provided with recesses 20 which are loosely engaged by the opposite outer ends of the transverse pin 13.

20 and 21 designate truss rods provided with eyes 22 and 23 which encircle the pin 14 and are spaced apart from the upper ends of the vertical links 15 by suitable washers 24. The truss rods, which diverge outwardly and downwardly from their eyes extend. to opposite sides of the transverse nnember 1S and pass through apertures formed therein. The lower ends of the truss rods are screw threaded to receive adjusting nuts 25 which bear against the under surface of the transverse member 18, so that the arms or tines 17 of the platform or fork may be supported horizontally or at different inclinations. As shown in'Fig. 1 the arms 01' tines 17 are supported at an inclination and are provided with the horizontal engaging surfaces is, which are shown in this instance as engaging the flange of a bathtub. The arms or tines 17 however may be formed and supported in a horizontal position as illustrated in Fig. 4.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the article handling device or fork may be raised or lowered by the handle 12 and that throughout its movement it occupies a substantially true horizontal position. The ware as it comes from the drying and storage racks is in the case of small articles arranged on grates or pallets placed on one of the slotted supports 2. To insert the ware within the furnace the article handling device or forkis in a manner readily understood moved beneath the slotted support holding the charge, whereupon the handle 12 is de pressed elevating the article handling device or fork so that the arms or tines 17 pass upward through the slots in the support, engage the grate or pallet and lifts the same clear of the support. The jib 3 is then swung into alinement with the door of the furnace and the carriage l moved forward until the charge is over'the slotted support a when the operator allows the article handling device or fork to slowly descend so that the charge is deposited on the slotted support a, the arms or tines 17 passing downward into the slots of said support. The article handling device or fork is then withdrawn from the furnace. The operation of removing the charge from the furnace is obvious and need not be described.

When large articles are to be treated such as tanks etc. the grates or pallets may be dispensed with and the articles engaged directly by the article handling device. In this connection the form and construction of the article handling device is subject to various changes to accommodate the same for handling different shaped articles.

It will be seen that by the particular arrangement of themembers for supporting the article handling device I am enabled to reduce the length of the operating handle 12 thus securing economy in space and lessening the distance necessary to be traveled by the attendant.

Various changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is 1. In an apparatus of the character described, serving mechanism adapted to in sert or withdraw articles from a treating chamber comprising a shiftable overhanging support, a carrier arm, a lever pivoted to the support for raising and lowering said arm, and connections intermediate said lever, arm and support for maintaining the arm parallel to a predetermined plane in its up and down movements, in combination with means for initially adjusting said arm to said predetermined plane.

2. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, serving mechanism adapted to insert or Withdraw articles from a treating chamber comprising a shiftable support, a carrier arm, a lever pivoted to the support for raising and lowering said arm, and pivoted link connections intermediate said lever, arm and support for maintaining the arm parallel to a predetermined plane in its up and down movements, in combination with means for initially adjusting said arm to said predetermined plane including a pivotal connection intermediate the said link connections and the end of said arm, and an adjustable rod leading from the arm at a point between its ends to said link connections at a point removed from said pivoted end of the arm.

3. In a serving fork for furnaces, the cornbination with a shiftable support for moving the fork to and from the furnace, of a carrier arranged at one side of said support, and operating means extending beyond the opposite side of said support including interme diate connections for maintaining the carrier parallel to a predetermined plane in its up and down movements, in combination with means for adjusting the carrier to said predetermined plane.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, serving mechanism adapted to in sert or withdraw the articles from a treating chamber comprising a shiftable support, a carrier arm, a lever pivoted to the support for raising and lowering said arm, said lever being extended beyond the side of the support which adjoins the arm, and pivoted link connections intermediate said lever, arm and support for maintaining the arm parallel to a predetermined plane in its up and down movements, consisting of a link ivoted to the support of a length substantia ly that of the extension of the lever, and a connecting link pivoted to said extension of the lever and said first mentioned link, the carrier arm be ingpivotally connected at one of the pivot points of the connecting link, and an adjustable rod extending from the opposite pivot point of said link to the arm and connected thereto intermediate its ends.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a support, a carriage mounted for travel on the support, comprising a main frame provided with a roller bearing, an offset portion also provided with a roller bearing, the said bearings engaging respectively opposite surfaces of the support, and a downwardly depending portion on the main frame, arms pivoted one above the other 'to the downwardly depending portion, a member connecting the arms at one side of their fulcrums, an article handling device supported by said arms, and formed to be projected. into or withdrawn means connected with one of the arms for 1 from the furnace opening and to be elevated operating the same to move the article hanl and lowered therein, pivoted link connecdling device vertically while maintaining it tions between the support and the serving parallel to a horizontal plane.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a swinging support, a carriage mounted to travel on the support, including a main frame having a down wardly depending portion and provided with an overlying trolley and an offset auxiliary frame provided With an underlying trolley, the said trolleys engaging respectively opposite surfaces of the support, arms pivoted one above the other to the depending portion of the main frame, a member connecting the arms at one side of their fulcrums, an article handling device supported by said arms, and means connected with one ofthe arms for operating the same to move the article handling device vertically while maintaining it parallel to a horizontal plane.

7. In an apparatus for inserting or withdrawing articles from a furnace, a shiftable support, a serving arm carried thereby formed to be projected into or withdrawn from the furnace opening and to be elevated and lowered therein, and instrumentalities for raising and lowering the arm and for maintaining the arm in a substantially horizontal plane during its raising and lowering interval and while in its various positions of adjustment consisting of pivoted rigid link connections between the arm and support, and an actuating device therefor.

S. In an apparatus for inserting or withdrawing articles from a furnace, a shiftable support, a serving arm thereon formed to be projected into or withdrawn from the furnace opening and to be elevated and lowered therein, and means for raising and lowering the arm including parallel pivoted connections between the support and the arm for maintaining the arm in a substantially horizontal plane during its raising and lowering interval and while in its various positions of adjustment.

9. In an apparatus for inserting or withdrawing articles from a furnace, a shiftable support, a pivoted serving arm thereon formed to be projected into or withdrawn from the furnace opening and to be elevated and lowered therein, pivoted link connections betweenthe serving arm and the adj acent side of the shiftable support and an operating lever connected therewith and pro jecting beyond the opposite side of said sup port for raising and lowering the arm and maintaining the arm in a substantially horizontal plane during its raising and lowering interval and'while in its various positions of adjustment.

10. In an apparatus for inserting or withdrawing articles from a furnace, a shiftable support, a pivoted serving arm thereon arm for maintaining the arm in a substantially horizontal plane during its raising and lowering interval and while in its various positions of adjustment, and a single actuating device for operating said arm and link connections.

11. In an apparatus for inserting or withdrawing articles l'rom a furnace, a shiftable support, a pivoted serving arm thereon formed to be projected into or withdrawn from the furnace opening and to be elevated and lowered therein, a pair of parallel links pivoted at one end to the shiftable support, a vertical link pivoted to the other ends of said parallel links, the serving arm being connected-to and carried by said links, and an operating. device extending outwardly from one of said parallel links.

1.2 In an apparatus l or inserting or withdrawing articles from a furnace, a shiftable support, a pivoted serving arm thereon formed to be projected into or withdrawn from the furnace opening and to be elevated and lowered therein, a pair of parallel links pivoted at one end to the shiftable support, a vertical link pivoted to the other ends of said parallel links, the serving arm being connected to and carried by said links, and an operating device extending outwardly from one of said parallel links, in combination with a brace rod extending from the link connection to the serving arm and connected thereto at a point inside of its pivot connection.

13. In an apparatus for inserting or withdrawing articles from a furnace, a shiftable support, a pivoted serving arm thereon formed to be projected into or withdrawn from the furnace opening and to be elevated and lowered therein, a pair of parallel links pivoted at one end to the shiftable support, a vertical link pivoted to the other ends of said parallel links, the serving arm being connected to and carried by said links, and an operating device extending outwardly from one of said parallel links, in combination with a brace rod extending from the link connection to the serving arm and connected thereto at a point inside of its pivot connection, and means for adjusting said brace rod to give the serving arm its initial position.

14. In an apparatus for inserting or withdrawingztrticles from a furnace, a shiftable support, a serving arm formed to be projected into or withdrawn from the furnace opening and to be elevated and lowered therein, instrumentalities for raising and lowering said arm and for maintaining the arm par allel to a predetermined plane during its raising and lowering interval, and while in its various positions of adjustment, including means for giving a preliminary and fixed adjustment to said arm.

15. In an apparatus for inserting or withdrawing articles from a furnace, a shiftable support, a serving arm thereon formed to be projected into or withdrawn from the furnace opening and to be elevated and lowered therein, means for raising and lowering the arm and for maintaining the same in a substantially horizontal plane during its raising and lowering interval and While in its various positions of adjustment, including parallel links pivoted at one end to the support, a vertical link pivoted to the opposite ends of said parallel links and at its lower end to the serving arm, abrace extending from the upper parallel link to the serving arm and connected therewith at a point inside of its pivot, and operating means for said arm and links.

16. In an apparatus for inserting or withdrawing articles from a furnace, a shiftable support, a serving arm thereon formed to be projected into or withdrawn from the furnace opening and to be lifted and lowered therein, means for raising and lowering the arm and for maintaining the same in a substantially horizontal plane during its raising and lowering interval and while in its various positions of adjustment, including parallel links pivoted at one end to the support, a vertical link pivoted to the opposite ends of said parallel links and at its lower end to the serving arm, a brace extending from the upper parallel link to the serving arm and connected therewith at a point inside of its pivot,

and operating means for said arm and links, said operating means consisting of a handle forming a continuation of one of the parallel links 17. In an apparatus for inserting or withtherein, means for raising and lowering the fork and for malntalnlng the fork in a substantially horizontal plane during its raising and lowering interval and while in its various positions of adjustment, and brace rods eX- tending from said means to each arm of the fork.

18. In an apparatus for inserting or withdrawing articles from a furnace, a shiftable support, a pivoted serving fork formed to be projected into or withdrawn from the fur nace opening and to be elevated and lowered therein, means for raising and lowering the fork and for maintaining the fork in a substantially horizontal plane during its raising and lowering interval and while in its various positions of adjustment, and brace rods extending from said means to each arm of the fork, in combination with means for adjusting said brace rods to give the said arms of the fork a predetermined fixed position.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES NELSON HOOPER.

Witnesses:

R. E. WILKI'NsoN, ED P. PERYON. 

